Today we’d like to introduce you to Javier B. Suarez.
Hi Javier B., we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Before I was fully aware of the world, acting was engrained in me. In diapers, I had to perform as a baby in a play. Then in high school at the age of 15, my love for acting really took flight and like many young actors I started in a school theatre.
Then, those butterflies I felt in my stomach the first time I got on a stage, returned few years later while co-directing a group of children in the Theater of ‘Missionary Childhood’ based in my hometown of Cochabamba, Bolivia alongside Claudia Siles. We were friends in college then had the chance to direct many more productions at this theatre program for children. Our love of film and theatre brought us closer together; 5 years later, we got married and now have been happily married for 25 years.
And so, for about 13 years, I managed to somehow distribute my time between the profession of business administration (I’ve worked in Human Resources) and Acting, up until the moment I decided to pick up my luggage filled only with Faith and left my country in pursuit of my real passion: acting in movies.
Arriving in Los Angeles, a new territory for me, God had already prepared wonderful people for me to connect with. Shortly after my arrival, I had the opportunity to study with Hollywood Acting Coach, Tom Draper, and met many actors who are now my friends, which led me to teaming up with an incredibly talented new film director, T.S. Meeks. He wrote, directed and produced the first feature film I appeared as a lead in the U.S. With an excellent team of producers, crew and actors, the film ‘Distancia’ was completed and appeared in many prestigious film festivals around the world.
I am a Bolivian film, theater, and television actor. I have appeared participated in more than 30 theatrical plays and 50 audiovisual productions, including feature films, short films, TV series, music videos and New Media.
I consider myself a versatile actor. I work very hard to bring truth and emotional depth to the characters I play. Through my perseverance and dedication to the craft, I have been blessed to work on international projects and have received recognition for some of them which I am very proud of. In the short film ‘Día de la Mesa’ (2016), I earned two Best Actor awards at the 48 Hour Film Project (Bolivia and the Iberoamerican Block) and the worldwide recognition at the Filmapalooza Global Awards 2017 as Best Supporting Actor. Most recently in June 2024, my debut feature film as a lead, T.S. Meeks’ ‘Distancia’, won the Best New Director Award at the Brooklyn International Film Festival. It was also featured in the Official Selection at the Buenos Aires International Film Festival 2024. Finally at the Edinburgh Film Festival International 2025, it was nominated in 6 categories, including my role as ‘Outstanding Actor in a Foreign Feature Film.’
Here’s a fun fact that my wife found on my IMDb: no matter how big or small my participation in a U.S. film/television production has been; these projects have been nominated or awarded in different categories and genres at multiple festivals.
In addition to acting, I ventured into directing, producing, and hosting radio and television programs; always linked to the world of film and culture. I love the ability to connect with diverse audiences. This lifelong commitment to the arts has led me to so many connections in the industry.
Additionally, I am passionate about sharing my experiences, that is why I have led acting workshops for film and theater at institutions such as the Universidad Mayor de San Simón (Bolivia) and during the pandemic, through the web in the Estación México International Festival.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
When you get to a point of your life and you are happy that you are actually still standing on your own feet, sometimes you forget how hard or difficult the journey has been. And there are also some people that say: ‘You make acting look so effortless’ or ‘it has always been so easy for you, because since you got your visa, immediately you started receiving calls to work in films and you even got to work in the iconic Los Angeles Theater’ (referring to 2023’s ‘Angel Of Light’). Well, truth is that all of our life we are sowing but there are also some few fulfilling moments that are of harvest, and we got to be thankful for all of them. And never forget that sometimes you had to: take crazy risks, like quitting steady jobs and jumping to the unknown, lose loved ones in the process, to missing people back home (my wife, dogs and family), to sleeping on the floor, and accepting the fact that you have been denied to audition for a Big Role because of your Visa status. Those things hurt, but they also make you little by little stronger, if you are able to endure. And endured I have.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Through acting, thanks God, I have experienced the journey in: Theater, films: short film/ medium-length film/ feature films/ TV/ “realities”/ anime/ series/ web series/voice acting. I am also a TV/ radio/ Host in shows that always relate to Films, Theater and entertainment.
In my journey, no matter how near or far I am from home, I am most proud of the marriage I have shared with my wife Claudia. Our love is the biggest accomplishment of my life. And that is why I want to thank her for her never ending love and support in the pursuit of my dreams.
I don’t have an eye; I lost it as baby because of a cancer I had. So that left me looking different in a way for all my life. I have to acknowledge that, but that was never a problem for me. A lot of persons think that in my condition I should have been a more shy or introverted kind of a guy, but look at me: as every actor, I am always in front of people, audiences, crew, you name it, in front of cameras, showing me as I am. And finally, the passion that I have for acting in films, the main reason why I am still here. And like in any other accomplishment in human history, it can’t be fulfilled without God’s intervention through people that offer their help and support throughout the journey, and I had received a lot of help!
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
First, I want to point out that I had to ask this to some other people, it’s hard for me to talk about myself in these matters. So, here is what they say regarding my qualities:
The will to surpass myself, been able to adapt to environments without feeling underestimated.
And of course, having the courage to take risks, been perseverant and assuming responsibility of my working decisions.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.javierbsuarez.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/javierbsuarez/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Javier-B-Suarez/106869962794002
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/javierbsuarez-actor/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/javierbsuarez
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMXX7g9OD3M89dsUw43cMAg/videos
Image Credits
In Order of uploading:
Cesar Tovar
48HFP Cochabamba
Daniel Cieplinski
Horst Brun
Aaron Inman
Prom 89 Amerinst
48HFP Filmapalooza 2017
Thomas Avona – Koushik Chattopadhyay
Brad Rundblade
